New Georgia Street narrowing/parking project functioning

Traffic now flows in one lane each direction for several blocks on Georgia Street just east of Sonoma Boulevard, after diagonal parking was created in the middle of the street. (Mike Jory/Times-Herald)

Though some are reserving judgment, the consensus of opinion among merchants and motorists along Georgia Street on Tuesday, seemed to be that the street's new configuration is working.

In response to calls for more parking along Georgia street between Sonoma Boulevard and Napa Street, and complaints of drivers going too fast along there, Public Works Director David Kleinschmidt and his staff developed a plan. It created 32 new parking spots while simultaneously slowing traffic.

The project created diagonal parking in the center of Georgia Street in the downhill direction and reduced the street width to one lane each way. It was finished at the end of last week.

"It's too early to tell if it's going to accomplish what it was designed to do, but drivers seem to be obeying, and there hasn't been complete chaos as some predicted," Kleinschmidt said.

"This is my first time on this street and parking here and I didn't know it was new, but it was super convenient," Sacramento resident Dillon Herrenschmidt said Tuesday. "I was able to walk to meet some friends at Java Jax for lunch and get back on the road."

At least one merchant said that while the street's new look has its advantages, there are still safety concerns.

"I think it's fine," Secrets Adult Boutique manager Christina Myers said. "There's more parking, but cars are still flying down the hill, and someday there's going to be an accident when someone tries pulling out (of one of the new parking spots)."

Several merchants said the new stop sign at the corner of Napa Street is also helping.

"I like it," Thelma's African Connection owner Thelma Brown said. "It gives me more parking, and I think it's slowed the traffic so people driving by are able to see more of what's here."

Like Kleinschmidt, Brown said it's too soon to tell how significant the impact of the new street configuration may be, but early signs are promising.

"We just got it Friday, but we're trying to get more people to get out and walk around and enjoy your town, and I think this will help," she said.

And at least one woman wound up doing just that Tuesday.

"It's a good idea," 15 year Vallejo resident Priscilla Banks said of the new Georgia Street arrangement. "I just noticed it, and because I parked here, I noticed more businesses along this street than I've ever noticed before."

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at Rachelvth.